Management Team

Richard L. DuchossoisChairman

Richard L. Duchossois has been the guiding force for Arlington since 1983, when he headed a group that purchased the track from Madison Square Garden Corporation.

In addition, he is the founder and owner, with his four children, of the Elmhurst, Ill., -based Duchossois Industries, Inc., which operates or owns major stakes in a diversified group of businesses involving consumer products, entertainment and venture capital.

A Chicago-area native, Duchossois graduated from Morgan Park Military Academy and was attending Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, when he was called to active military service in 1942. He served in five European campaigns and was awarded various citations before being released from active service as a major in 1946. In 1991, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by Washington and Lee.

Since becoming involved with Thoroughbred racing, Duchossois has been an industry leader and has had a major impact on the sport both nationally and internationally.

Under Duchossois' leadership, Arlington has received three coveted Eclipse Awards. Arlington became the first racetrack ever to receive an Eclipse Award in 1985 for staging the "Miracle Million," which was run in front of more than 35,000 fans in temporary bleachers and tents 25 days after the entire grandstand was completely destroyed by a fire.

The track’s second Eclipse Award was earned in 1987 for the production of 10 television shows featuring Arlington's major thoroughbred stakes races. In 1989, two years after legislation was passed allowing Arlington to rebuild, Duchossois oversaw the complete reconstruction of the current Arlington Park, which earned the track a third special Eclipse Award for its extraordinary investment into the future of racing.

In addition, Duchossois personally received the 2004 Eclipse Award of Merit in recognition of his lifetime achievements in Thoroughbred racing.

In a year that witnessed the first visit ever visit by the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships to Arlington Park and the Midwest, Duchossois was named a co-winner of the 2002 National Thoroughbred Writer's Association Joe Palmer Award for "meritorious service to racing."

Duchossois has been honored many times for his contributions to international racing as well. He was the third recipient of the American Jockey Club's Gold Medal in 1986, and in 1988 he received the Special Sovereign Award by the Jockey Club of Canada for unique achievements in the racing industry. He also was the fifth recipient of the prestigious Lord Derby Award in London from the Horserace Writers and Reporters Association of Great Britain.

Among his other honors, Duchossois was inducted into the HBPA Hall of Fame and the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. He also was selected as Man of the Year by the Jockey's Guild.

He is currently a member of The Jockey Club.

Duchossois and his wife, Judi, live in Barrington Hills. His two daughters and one son, along with their families, live in the Chicago area while his other son resides in South Carolina.

Tony PetrilloGeneral Manager

Tony Petrillo was named General Manager of Arlington International Racecourse on October 13, 2010 and assumed full operational control of the racetrack after serving as Arlington's Vice President of Facilities and Operations since 2007.

In his previous role, Petrillo supervised Arlington Park's Facilities, Housekeeping, Security, and Track and Turf departments. He was responsible for the design, planning, construction and maintenance of the entire 325-acre facility, which includes the grandstand, backstretch stable area and parking lots. In addition, Petrillo ensured that the track was in compliance with zoning, traffic and OSHA regulations, and acted as liaison with local government and state regulatory agencies.

Petrillo joined Arlington Park in 1994 as a business analyst, serving as a strategic partner to the president in real estate diversification and developing OTB locations. In 1999, he was promoted to Director of Facilities and Operations and took on responsibility for the company's capital budget and strategic business initiatives.

Before joining the Arlington Park family, Petrillo served as Project Manager, then as the Assistant Director with the Illinois Racing Board, administering regulations governing horse racing and wagering.

Along with the many professional relationships he maintains with community organizations as part of his duties at Arlington, Petrillo has additional involvement within the community as an Arlington Heights Zoning Board Commissioner, Council Member of the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America and Executive Board Member of the Sockers FC Youth Foundation. In addition, he volunteers for numerous community and political-based activities.